Lais Almeida

Lais Almeida is a Senior Associate at PCL Lawyers with extensive experience in commercial, corporate, construction and dispute resolution matters. Having practised law across both Australia and Brazil, Lais brings a unique international perspective combined with strong commercial insight and a practical approach to resolving complex legal issues.

Lais has worked in law firms since 2007 and has built legal experience across two jurisdictions. She was admitted as a Barrister in Brazil in 2012 and commenced working in Australian law firms in 2019, developing significant expertise in complex commercial, corporate and litigation matters.

Clients value Lais’s dedication, responsiveness and determination to achieve practical and commercially focused outcomes. She combines strong technical legal knowledge with a genuine commitment to understanding her clients’ objectives and delivering strategic advice tailored to their needs.

Having appeared before the Supreme Court of New South Wales and the District Court of New South Wales, she has successfully represented clients in complex litigation, regulatory disputes, corporate matters and high-value commercial negotiations. Lais has managed significant commercial litigation and construction disputes in New South Wales, including matters exceeding $1 million in value.

Her experience includes drafting and negotiating commercial agreements, shareholder agreements and settlement deeds, advising on corporate governance and compliance issues and acting in complex construction and commercial disputes. She has also worked extensively with directors, business owners and corporate clients, providing practical legal advice focused on protecting commercial interests and achieving efficient outcomes. Lais is known for her strategic thinking, strong advocacy skills and ability to manage matters independently from commencement through to resolution.

Before practising in Australia, Lais gained extensive experience in Brazil leading and growing teams of lawyers and support staff while maintaining a diverse practice across commercial, corporate, taxation and civil litigation matters. Her experience as a Civil Litigation Team Manager at a prominent Brazilian law firm, together with establishing and managing her own law firm, reflects her leadership capabilities and strong understanding of commercial realities.

In addition to private practice, Lais has valuable in-house legal experience gained while working within the global risk and compliance team of an international company, where she managed compliance and regulatory matters across multiple jurisdictions including Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States.

Lais holds a Bachelor of Laws from Brazil, postgraduate qualifications in Civil Law and Civil Procedure, and completed her Australian legal qualifications through the University of Sydney and the Legal Profession Admission Board. She is admitted to practise in New South Wales and was admitted as a Barrister in Brazil in 2012. Having worked in legal practice since 2007 and in Australian law firms since 2019, she brings a depth of experience spanning commercial, corporate, regulatory and dispute resolution matters. Lais is also fluent in Portuguese.